Recent Episodes
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Evolving a Legacy Business to $3.2m EBITDA
Jun 9, 2025 – 01:23:03 -
How to Build $7.5m in Net Worth by Buying a B&B
Jun 5, 2025 – 01:29:29 -
How to Grow Revenue 50% in Year 1
Jun 2, 2025 – 01:21:41 -
The Entrepreneur Awakens: Pivoting from Tech to Ownership
May 29, 2025 – 01:48:27 -
Quitting Consulting to Buy a $1m SDE Agency
May 26, 2025 – 01:27:48 -
Rebuilding from 80% Collapse to Mid-7 Figures Revenue
May 22, 2025 – 01:44:15 -
Buying $5m of Revenue with $50k of Equity
May 19, 2025 – 01:11:07 -
How to Use an SBA Loan to Roll Up from $6m to $140m
May 15, 2025 – 01:29:48 -
How 1 Couple Bought 2 Businesses
May 12, 2025 – 01:25:21 -
How to Recover from a Fraudulent Seller
May 8, 2025 – 01:25:05 -
Turning a $250k Investment into $7m+
May 5, 2025 – 01:27:01 -
Buying a Remote, 20-Year-Old Business with $900k of SDE
May 1, 2025 – 01:58:17 -
21 Months to Stability Buying a $1.2m SDE Business
Apr 28, 2025 – 01:24:29 -
How to Build a Niche Holdco with $2m in Earnings
Apr 24, 2025 – 01:45:27 -
Hiding in Plain Sight on BizBuySell: $800k SDE for 2x
Apr 21, 2025 – 01:38:03 -
How to Build a $100m Holdco: The Power of ESOPs
Apr 17, 2025 – 01:38:59 -
How to Reinvent a $1m Candle Manufacturer
Apr 14, 2025 – 01:26:03 -
Stars Align After 4 Broken Deals
Apr 10, 2025 – 01:19:22 -
When Buying a Retail Business Makes Sense
Apr 7, 2025 – 01:26:19 -
FedEx & Fencing: A Pivot into Ownership
Apr 3, 2025 – 01:28:52 -
Why Buy a Travel Agency (Because They Can Crush It)
Mar 31, 2025 – 01:18:11 -
Deciding to Start, Not Buy, a Small Business
Mar 27, 2025 – 01:20:02 -
How to Buy a Multinational
Mar 24, 2025 – 01:24:57 -
Lessons from 24 Acquisition Nightmares
Mar 20, 2025 – 01:57:05 -
From Tech Sales to Forklift Repair
Mar 17, 2025 – 01:37:33 -
Building a Beloved Brand from a Tiny, Dying Business
Mar 13, 2025 – 01:20:46 -
The Appeal (and Risk) of Buying a Consulting Firm
Mar 10, 2025 – 01:31:01 -
Why Treat an Acquisition Like a Startup
Mar 6, 2025 – 01:27:33 -
Buying in a Small Market, Building a Regional Powerhouse
Mar 3, 2025 – 01:49:59 -
How to Build a Holdco Foundation: Patiently
Feb 27, 2025 – 01:20:09 -
Back from the Brink: When Everybody Quits Day 1
Feb 24, 2025 – 01:28:53 -
How to Buy & Transform a 120-Year-Old Manufacturer
Feb 20, 2025 – 01:43:36 -
Behind Every Great Searcher: A Wife's Journey with Search
Feb 17, 2025 – 01:52:22 -
Networking His Way to $800k SDE
Feb 13, 2025 – 01:19:57 -
Buy, Grow, Exit for a 24x Return in 3.5 Years
Feb 10, 2025 – 01:10:28 -
How to Lead a Trades Business Without Knowing the Trade
Feb 6, 2025 – 01:24:27 -
How to Move the Needle in a $600k SDE Trades Business
Feb 3, 2025 – 01:41:13 -
Awakening to Entrepreneurship to Buy a Not-Boring Business
Jan 30, 2025 – 01:41:35 -
How a Couple Left Tech to Buy a Business Together
Jan 27, 2025 – 01:16:36 -
How to Survive Buying into a Terrible Industry
Jan 23, 2025 – 02:03:37 -
The $50m Lifestyle Holdco
Jan 20, 2025 – 01:45:20 -
How to 4x a Contracting Business in 3 Years
Jan 16, 2025 – 01:33:37 -
How to Buy a $13m Business with No PG, No Investors
Jan 13, 2025 – 01:27:32 -
Bullseye: Buying a $1m SDE Business in a Hot Industry
Jan 9, 2025 – 01:54:33 -
Taking a Flower Shop from $600k to $9 Million
Jan 6, 2025 – 01:50:21 -
The Path to Becoming a Better Operator & Strategist
Jan 2, 2025 – 01:24:26 -
First-Timer Buys 8-Figure Business 4 Hours Away
Dec 30, 2024 – 01:31:10 -
How to Buy Franchise Businesses, Then Sell to PE
Dec 26, 2024 – 01:10:36 -
From Frustrated Searcher to $3.5m Owner to Holdco Builder
Dec 23, 2024 – 01:23:26 -
Perils in Partnership: Plumbing Acquisition Gone Wrong
Dec 19, 2024 – 01:31:23
Recent Reviews
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Guy 2025High Quality ETA ContentThere is no one offering high level ETA content like Will. No click bate , just great stories and real searcher experiences to help people learn if they want to make the jump into ETA. This podcast has changed how I view the world. Thank you Will.
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Hamptons 64The BestI have been acquiring starting and building companies for 30 years Now looking to have my holdco platform be permanent capital for the family Will and his guests and the engaging on point content are simply the best And I have read and or listened to most of the top guys Keep it going Will and thank you M Crow
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DawgFather09Shaugn Lindley is a legend, great episode!Shaugn was an SAP legend and is destined to be a legend of the fork lift business. I can’t wait to watch this story unfold.
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CrosbysaAmazing Resource!I was referred to this podcast by a friend. Absolutely was hooked from the first episode. It’s been my go to for help on all things related to any deal I’m looking at. I’ve also connected with several guests who have also been helpful.
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Appu JacobBest SMB eta podcastBeen listening to Acquiring minds for 2.5years now and it inspired me to get into eta as well
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AlexSoDakAbsolutely love this podcastThe stories are great and Will is a terrific host
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The ETA GuyGreat Guests - Host Asks the Right QuestionsWill Smith asks the questions that we all want to ask but probably wouldn’t. Great guests too.
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PandaPanda229Tremensous ValueThis is probably my favorite podcast (and I listen to a lot). There is more value in one hour that Will provides to his listeners than any other podcast, webinar, lecture. Will has guests on that have gone through the challenges (including personal trepidation) of breaking out of the 9-5 slog and bought a business. He is an amazing interviewer, who asks great questions and lets the guest tell their story. I’m very grateful to have found this podcast and hoping he goes to TWO SHOWS a week!
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TrevormethenaGreat show, super helpfulSo many guests have come on and helped bring ideas, courage, and motivation to continue on in entrepreneurship.
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Quest For Adventure 365A No BrainerGreat resource both for those considering entering the space and for those actively in the space looking to level up.
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BobjoefjsbejtfchrisnfStart your search hereThis is the single most valuable practical source out there for searchers. HBR and BTB are great for the foundational academic knowledge but Will is able to get cut through the ‘prestige’ and get genuine responses from his guests about the highs and lows of searching. I highly recommend!
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A-PatWill is changing people’s livesAs someone looking to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship, Acquiring Minds is a clinic. Will asks excellent questions and digs into the questions and topics his listeners are anxious to learn about. I fully intend to purchase a business in the next 12 months and Will’s podcast has given me the confidence to believe I can.
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Traps WellingtonGreat Info! Great Guests!Will asks all the questions I’m thinking during these interviews. Very direct and informative. He also doesn’t beat around the bush when getting clarification on things. Worth a listen for sure.
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Fed up in IndyA must listen in SMB acquisition worldWill does a fantastic job of finding great guests and really distilling their challenges and successes down to plain direct language. A must listen if you’re interested in the small business acquisition world!
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yatrayatraEBITD AAAAHThe host, Will, is exceptional, with an equally exceptional pronunciation of business’s most important term: ebitDAAHH not ebitDUH 😒😪 e-bit-DAH 🤩🥳 certainly not Cash Flow (gross who needs that)
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RyanVT2001Great show but ebitDAAAAAOne of the hosts participates in the fun trend of over annunciating the DA in EBITDA and the cringiness takes the rating from a 5 to a 3. I’m sorry that’s my final rating. The over emphasized final syllable must stop and it most stop now. ebitDAAAAAAAAA
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Anusha64Great Educational ValueI’ve been listening to acquiring minds for a year now and I couldn’t help but leave a review. Thank you so much Will for putting it together. I have learned so much from your interviews and keep learning every day. I am sure it has already saved me so many mistakes in my future business. I’m a big fan.
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FUN Podcast!Great episode…and grateful for the Zoom Drain shout out!Love the sound “any business” advice and the exploration of exit options! 🤩 And thanks for being our #zoomdrain customer, Brian!
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Cst307ETA 101I’ve been falling into the ETA rabbit hole, and this podcast has been incredibly effective at getting me up to speed. Will is a great interviewer, and he covers a broad range of ETA activities, including traditional and self funded search.
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Cool Chick 5Ideas are aligned with my searchWill, it’s almost as if you know where I’m going before I get there. I started looking for a job replacement business in franchises, your pod talked me into the idea of buying an already existing business for which I’ve been trying to avoid buying too small, and now I’ve circled back to franchises, as a way to create real personal wealth by growing then multiplying. I heard the Scenthound episode, and the next day, I found one to buy. Crazy?
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James M 814My go to podcastWill is a phenomenal interviewer. Each episode is filled with gems for anyone interested in the acquisition world. Keep it up will!
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RDM_Excellent podcast!Will does a great job of finding and interviewing interesting guests who represent a good cross section of acquirers.
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Sleepy Creek CapitalWorth every minuteWill does a great job finding and interviewing entrepreneurs who acquire businesses. I appreciate that he keeps the conversation on point, so that every minute is valuable. This podcast is one of the best for those looking to acquire a business to learn and be entertained along the way.
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JnraneOne of my favorite podcastsWill’s podcast episodes are priceless for someone like me who is searching for a small business to acquire. I learn a ton from him and his guests and I get excited when a new episode comes out. He asks great questions and the guests he has are quality individuals with great stories.
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Dallastats95Great content showing diversity of search!Will does a terrific job showcasing different searchers (from a variety of backgrounds) who have embraced the search process and lifestyle. He profiles interesting people with fascinating businesses and gets them to share their highs and lows for others looking to learn.
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anwheelsGreat podcast for searchers!Will has fantastic guests and I really enjoy his interviewing style. I take away practical wisdom and insights about buying and running a small business in every episode.
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berkeley-okSuch a cool podcastTons of stories of people buying businesses. So interesting and inspirational. Makes me feel like I should buy a business.
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PK_CastroAmazing storiesBeen considering buying a business and found this pod. Fanstastic stories about entrepreneurs who have done it. I learn a ton from these episodes, which I’ve been bingeing!
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Anu pExtremely insightfulI came across the Acquiring Minds Podcast recently. Everyday while I drop off my kids to school, pick them or doing chores... I listen to these podcasts. These podcasts are an absolute must for any aspiring/acquiring entrepreneurs. Firstly the guests and Will don’t expect any level of esoteric entrepreneurial knowledge from the listeners.. they discuss even the basics. Secondly, the guests are from various entrepreneurial backgrounds. Thirdly, Will has this amazing ability of putting guests at ease. I absolutely recommend this podcast!
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MarketingScottGreat info for anyone interested in SMB’sI recently discovered Acquiring Minds and have been binging episodes ever since. Will Smith hosts some great business people and is able to uncover fantastic nuggets that are relevant to anyone interested in SMB’s, whether acquisition is in their future or not. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
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Jesse0993Must listen!Fantastic podcast for when it comes to business owners I love the details and the episode on how to pick a Business leader. Great advice all around
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😘😋TikiarialasaranThis podcast WAS SO INSPIRING✨The creator actually has no idea how much this podcast has BLESSED ME. I listened to the “How to Buy a Landscaping Business” episode and I want to say that I truly enjoyed listening to this podcast because it was insanely inspiring! Hearing that the interviewee went from having a desk job to owning a large residential business was so motivating!! Additionally, hearing him talking about how the key to the growth of his business was through quality service and customer service was also very refreshing, being that in this day and age, many people only care about growth and lack quality service or even customer service but hearing this from the interviewee showed how much the interviewee actually cared about his clientele and not just personal gain. Also, this podcast was so timely being that I have a friend who wants to go into landscaping and hearing this man’s journey to success was a reality check! I love podcasts that allow me to learn about something new and help me to educate others in the long run and this was just that! Another major takeaway from this episode was the importance of having a plan, the interviewee had a whole 12-18 month plan instead of having like a 3 month unorganized plan, that many people in my age group have so ultimately patience is key! God bless the creator and interviewer... this podcast was GREAT! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!✨🥳 I truly enjoyed it!!
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Greg168033BBS on Acquiring MindsI'm on BizBuySell every week looking at the businesses for sale in my region. Always wondering, do people actually buy these? A bunch of guests on Acquiring Minds have indeed used BBS to buy a business. These interviews are pushing me to keep looking for "the one".
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amyc-sfLove Listening to Acquiring Minds!!So many cool interviews with people buying businesses. I actually know someone who's raised a fund to buy SMBs, so it's been an education to hear stories from the front lines. 5 stars!
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Buyer CuriousGreat pod on buying a businessI’ve always been curious about buying a business, and all these stories in acquiring minds make me realize how possible it is. I’m binging on it!!
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@meditationfarmGreat name, greater podI listen to tons of different entrepreneurship podcasts, but this is the first one I've heard devoted to "acquisition entrepreneurship". A great addition to the scene.
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Pinky1776A new part of the ETA podcast canonI recently found out about Acquiring Minds after being invited to the show. Prior to knowing about Acquiring Minds, I listened religiously to other entrepreneurship through acquisition podcasts - Think Like an Owner, Acquisitions Anonymous, etc. Although now I’m operating an actual business I acquired, I’m still listening to Will’s show. Even for interviewees who’ve been on other shows I’ve listened to, hearing those interviewees on Acquiring Minds is still really useful just because each interviewer extracts different information from the interviewee… and Will’s a great interviewer!
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SCMFreelanceAn interesting, great listen!I had never thought much of acquiring a business, and this podcast has opened a whole new world for me. Love the diversity of the guests and listening to their interesting stories. Will does an excellent job with the interviews and making sure practical information gets shared too.
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N2qcLearning a ton from the storiesSo far the interviews have been great - educational and inspirational for someone like me who is considering buying a business. Look forward to more!
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